I’ll take Copenhagen as a win; DEM stocks ponds with salmon; funds for clean water

President Obama ended the Copenhagen environmental conference by relating a “Meaningful and unprecedented breakthrough” occurred at the conference. At the eleventh hour a non-binding environmental agreement (called the Copenhagen Accord) was made between five nations including China, India, Brazil, South Africa and the US. The aim of the agreement is to curb climate change. President Obama said that the accord signified “the beginning of a new era of international action” on global warming.

I’ll take this as a win and a victory for the world, for the US and fisherman in Rhode Island. It is a perfect cap to the holiday season. I/we can go to bed on New Year’s Eve knowing that the US and the world are paying attention to global warming; we are taking actions to reduce greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation.

We have one earth and scientific proof that it is getting warmer. To assume the earth can continue to handle global warming itself is a big mistake, not to take action to reduce warming would be an unforgivable mistake for our generation.

The 193 nations attending the conference all believe in the science of global warming. Nations agree that global warming is science and not science fiction. All were attending the conference because they believe that global warming has and will continue to impact their nations unless something is done to stop it. And, all believed that nations have to act collectively to prevent further warming.

The agreement was very modest compared to what environmentalists and world leaders hoped to achieve by the conclusion of the Copenhagen conference. The agreement fails to set goals for reaching a binding international treaty nor does it firmly commit nations to firm targets for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the accord is a commitment from individual nations to act on the global warming issue. It is an important first step. Nations are now taking action individually and collectively to address the issue. Here are some details on the agreement courtesy of AP and NY Times reports from Copenhagen.

1. The accord provides a system for monitoring and reporting progress toward national goals

2. It calls for billions of dollars to flow from wealthy nations to developing countries most vulnerable to a climate change

3. Establishes the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels by 2050. This means big changes for all nations in the way we do things, necessitating a major reduction in carbon emissions

4. The accord is the start of negotiations, it relates that the accord should be reviewed and put in place by 2015; we now have goals and a planning date to work toward.

Global warming is important to fishermen because it is changing our local fishery in an unnatural way. Studies by the National Oceanographic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the University of Rhode Island Oceanographic School and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) have all discovered a warming Narragansett Bay and ocean along with a dramatic movement of fish species. Cold water fish are moving further north or further out into deeper water (like cod) and warm water fish are moving into the area. This coupled with visible proof of beach erosion and property destruction on our Islands and coastal shores presents strong evidence of warming and the destruction to nature and man it can create.

It is very gratifying as we approach the year’s end that we are moving forward with an international accord that is good for the world, the US and fishermen right here in Rode Island.

DEM to stock Atlantic salmon for anglers

DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife will stock about 200 surplus domestic Atlantic salmon broodstock in three ponds: Olney Pond in Lincoln, Barger Pond in South Kingstown and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry. The salmon will be stocked before Christmas day with winter trout in anticipation of the winter ice-fishing seasons. The salmon run between five and twelve pounds and were given to RI from the US fish and Wildlife Service hatchery in Nashua, NH.

To possess salmon, anglers must have fresh water fishing license and a trout conservation stamp. The daily limit for salmon is two fish as part of the daily trout limit which is currently two per day.

At present, there is no safe ice in Rhode Island. Anglers should check with local towns and communities for safe ice conditions. Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. According to DEM it generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s before ice may become safe. Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found online at its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Parks, Beaches and Campgrounds" from the homepage.

Ocean State Tackle to consolidate

Dave Henault, a frequent fishing report contributor, said that he is consolidating his business and closing his Bristol and Coventry/West Greenwich stores. As a result he is having an inventory reduction sale at the Coventry/West Greenwich store. Rods, reels and fishing tackle will be offered at sale pricing. Sale items include St Croix rods, tuna rods by Barefoot, Tica, Fenwick and Penn as well as over 200 conventional and spinning reels in stock. Visit oceanstatetackle.com or call 401.226.6626.

DEM announces federal grant program for nonpoint source pollution control

The Department of Environmental Management has announced that up to $750,000 in federal Clean Water Act grants are available for local projects to restore water quality and abate nonpoint source pollution. Local, state and regional governmental agencies, as well as public schools, universities, and non-profit watershed, environmental or conservation organizations, are eligible to apply for the grants.

DEM's Office of Water Resources will hold a public workshop on Friday, January 22 to review the grant application process. All potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. The workshop will be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Room 300 at DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade Street in Providence.

The request for proposals is available on DEM's website at www.dem.ri.gov under "Grants" on the Topics page. The request for proposals is also posted on the state Office of Purchases website at www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/GrantSearch.asp

Captain Dave Monti has been fishing and shell fishing on Narragansett Bay for over 40 years. He holds a captain’s master license and a charter fishing license. Your fishing stories, comments and questions are welcome… there’s more than one way to catch a fish so e-mail Captain Dave at dmontifish@verizon.net.